Permutation switch lock



Jan. 5 1926-. 1,568,483

J. J. TOLBERT PERMUTATION SWITCH LOCK Filed Dec. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A, IIIH lll III!"- zgm KW "0",, III

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INVENTOR JmasJ. 75mm? ATTORNEYS Jan. 5 1926.

J. J. TOLBERT PERMUTATION SWITCH LOCK Filed Dec. 3, 1925 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR James J. 70155427 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES J. TOLBERT, F DOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PERMUTATION SWITCH LOCK.

Application filed December 13,1923. Serial No. 680,571.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES J. Tonnnu'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation Switch Locks, of which the following is a specification.

y invention relates generally to electric switch locks designed for preventing the unauthorized closing of switches, and more particularl although not necessarily, to switch: c s for the ignition systems of motor vehicle engines.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide an electric switch lock which, in order that the switch canv be manipulated to close the circuit which itmay control, necessitates the operation in a predetermined sequence of a roup of elements, such elements con-' stitutlng only a part of a multiplicity of similar elements provided to confuse and thus render it practically impossible for an unauthorized person to close the switch. The switch is constructed to permit variations in the. sequence of operation of the group of contacts and the elements comprising the group, thusrendering the switch universally adaptable to all motor vehicles.

I will describe only one form of electric switch lock embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figurel is a View showing in top plan one form of electric switch lock embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a. central vertical sectional view of the switch lock shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3, H and 5-5, respectively, of Figure 2;

'Figure 6 is abottom plan view of the rotatable member comprised in the switch lock shown in the preceding views;

1 Figure 7 is atop plan view of the stationary member comprised in the switch lock shown in the preceding views.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views of the drawing;

Referring specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 2, my invention in its present; embodiment comprises a cas-v ing having an open side closed by a cover ui g;1}f9rn 1e51 of insulating mate ial and having a central opening in which is rotatably mounted a spindle 17 having a knurled head 18. \Vithin the casing 15 a member 19 is rotatably mounted. thereon and confined against displacement therefrom binding posts 24 (Figure 2) extend downwardly from the contacts and through the casing to provide a connection for electrical conductors. are adapted to constitute the terminals of theuignition and starting circuit of an internal combustion engine, and such contacts are adapted to be bridged by a movable contact 25 secured to the under side of the rotatable member 19. The member 19 is normally urged to a position in which the movable contact 25 is out of engagement with the stationary contacts 22 and 23 so that the circuit of which the contacts 22 and 23 constitutev the terminals is open. spring 26 (Figure 4) is employed for this purpose, and one end of the spring is connected to a pin 27 securedflto the member 19 and a pin 28 secured to the disk 22. The normal position of the member 19 is defined by a pin 29 on the member engaging a block 30 fixed to the disk 22.

To rotate the member 19 against the action of the spring 26 so as to cause the movable contact 25 to bridge the contacts 22 and 23, I provide a plurality of projections or pins 31 fixed to and extending radially from the periphery of the member 19. Gains 32 are mounted for vertical movement to strike the pins 31 and to thereby effect a step by step rotation of the member 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. These cams are adapted to be manually actuated in a predetermined order, and manually operable actuating elements are designed for actuating the cams. As all of the actuating elements are of the same construction a description of one will suffice for all. [is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5, each actuating element includes a plunger rod 33 movable vertically in the cover plate 16 and in a guide plate 34, the latter beingalso formed of insulating material and arranged in spaced relation to the plate 16, as clearly shown'in Figure 2. A reduced extension conne ts a c nical cam 35. to the lower These two contacts 22 and 23 ill] end of the rod 33 and provides a keeper groove between the rod and cam in which a latch finger is adapted to repose, as will be described hereinafter. On the lower end of the cam 35 a screw threaded extension 37 is formed, and this extension engages an angular block 38 movable vertically in a guide plate 39 which functions to prevent rotation of the plunger rod within the plates 16 and 34. The block 38 in turn is provided with a screw threaded extension 10 which is adapted to removably receive the triangular shaped cam 32. A coil spring -11 is mounted on the plunger rod 33 between the plates 16 and 34, and this spring functions to normally urge the plunger rod upwardly or to a projected position, such position being defined by means of a pin 41 extending transversely through the rod. In the projected position of the plunger rod the cam 32 is out of engagement with the corresponding pin 31, but by pushing the plunger rod inwardly to a retracted position and against the action of the spring 11, the cam is depressed to engage the pin 31 and thus effect partial rotation of the member 19.

In Figure 4 I have shown the member 19 provided with four pins 31, and four of the actuating elements provided with cams 32. The other actuating elementsfunction as dummies in that they are not provided with cams, and consequently are not capable of effecting movement of the member 19.

These dummies serve to confuse an unauthorized person attempting to solve the combination of the lock, and to provide actuating means for the cams 32 should it be desired to change the combination of the lock ly shifting the cams from one group of actuating elements to another group.

It is to be noted that the pins 31 are .threadedly fitted in the member 19 so as to allow removal thereof and placing in other sockets formed in the periphery of the member. The repositioning of the pins of course determines the repositioning of the cams with respect to the actuating elements. Further, any number of pins and cams can be employed within the capacity of the device so that any number of combinations can be provided, thus rendering the switch lock universally adaptable to all mot-or vehicles.

In order to determine those actuating elements to be operated and the proper sequence for effecting the necessary movement of the member 19, the outer ends of the plunger rods 33 have lettering thereon, as clearly shown in Figure 1, although it is to be understood that any other form of characters can be employed to achieve the purpose desired.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, latching means is interposed between the plates and 39 which operates to latch any one of the plunger rods when the latter is pushed into retracted position for maintaining the corresponding cam 33 in lowered position so that the member 19 is held in advance position against the action of the spring 26. This latching means further operates to release that plunger rod which has been pushed into retracted position upon the movement of any other plunger rod to retracted position, and it is by virtue of this mode of operation that the operation of the actuating elements in a predetermined sequence is absolutely necessary to the closing of the switch. It will be understood that should notv the actuating elements be operated in the proper sequence the member 19 will be returned to normal position under the action of the spring.

This latching means in the present instance comprises a head 413 fixed to the spindle 17 by means of a pin 34. A disk 15 is formed integral with the head 13, and to this disk are pivoted, by means of pins 16, a plurality of latching fingers -17 supported in tangential relation with respect to the disk by means of guide brackets d8 secured to the under side of the plate 34:. The latching fingers 4'? correspond in number to the plunger rods 33, and each latching finger is movable to be inserted into or withdrawn from the keeper groove 36. In the advanced position of the latching finger its free end is disposed within the groove to secure the plunger rod in retracted position against the tension of the corresponding spring 11, as clearly shown in Figure 2. \Vhen the latching finger is withdrawn from the groove the spring 41 operates to return the rod to projected position. Each latching finger is normally urged to an advanced position by means of a spring 1 9 connected to the plate 34 and to the disk 15 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 3. lVith each latching finger urged to this position it contacts with the conical cam 35, and when the plunger rod is pushed inwardly the downward movement of the cam will operate to force the latching finger rearwardly, thereby moving the disk 45 in such direction that all of the latching fingers will be moved to released or retracted position, However, as soon as: the plunger rod reaches its lowermost position the corresponding latching finger will move free of the cam 35 and into the keeper groove 36, thereby latching the plunger rod in retracted position.

The operation of the entire switch lock is as follows: Vith all of the plunger rods occupying projected position, and the rotatable member 19 in normal position, the latter can be rotated to cause the movable contact 25 to bridge the stationary contacts 22 and 23 by pushing those p'lu-n er rods carrying the cams 32 into retracted position and in such sequencethat the cams will fit) successively engage the corresponding pins 31in order to effect a step by step movement of the member 19 in the direction of the arrow in Figure It will be noted that only one cam at a time is in operative rela tion to its corresponding pin, and that the operation of this cam rotates the member 19 sufficiently to place the succeeding pin in operative relation to the next cam.

Upon the retraction of the first plunger rod, it is latched in retracted position by means of its corresponding latching finger, thus causing the ooresponding cam to maintain engagement with the corresponding pin and thus hold the member 19 in advanced position against the action of the spring 26. Upon the operation of the next plunger rod, the latching finger for the first plunger rod is moved to released position, thus allowing that plunger rod to return to projected position. In the meantime the second plunger rod operates its cam to advance the member 19 another step and to maintain such memher in the newly advanced position until the succeeding plunger rod is operated. In this manner the remaining actuating elements operate and function to effect the necessary movement of the member 19 to cause the contact 25 to bridge the contacts 22 and 23.

In order to release the member 19 so that it will be returned to normal position for disconnecting the contacts 22 and 23, the spindle 17 can be rotated by gripping the head 18 and in such direction as to rot-ate the disk 4:5 to move the latching fingers to released position. In this operation the corresponding latching finger for the plunger rod which was last depressed moves to released position, thereby permitting such plunger rod to return to projected position. Vith the return of this plunger rod to proected position the corresponding cam disengages the respective pin so as to allow the spring 26 to function in returning the member 19 to normal position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one fo rm of permutation switch lock embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made' herein without depart iug from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

l. A. permutation switch lock comprising a stationary contact, a movable member, a movable contact secured to the member, means for urging the member to a position in which the movable contact is out of engagement with the stationary contact, pro jeetions on the member, a plurality of plungers, certain of which have cams adapted to engage the projections for moving the member against the action of said urging means, means for normally urging the plungers to projected position wherein the cams are out of engagement with the projections, said ing means being yieldable to permit the shiny; of the plungers into retracted position to cause said cams to engage said projections, and means for latching the plungin retracted position.

2. A permutation switch ock comprising a stationary contact, a movable member, a movable contact secured to the member, means for urging the member to a position in. which the movable contact is out of ongagement with the stationary contact, proj etions on the member, a plurality of cams, one for each of the projections, plungers carried by the cams and normally urged to a projected position wherein the cams are out of with the projections, but capable of being moved to a retracted position, wherein the cams strike the projections to cause movement of said member, and means for latching the plungers in retracted position.

A permutation switch lock comprising a stationary contact, a movable member, a movable contact secured to the member, means for urging the member to a position in which the movable contact is out of en gagement with the stationary contact, projections on the member, a plurality of cams, one for each of the projections, plungers carried by the cams and normally urged to a projected position wherein the cams are out of engagement with the projections, but ca- 'pable of being moved to a retracted position,

wherein the cams strike the projections to cause movement of said member, and means for latching the plungers in retracted position, said latching means operating to release any one plunger upon the retraction of any other plunger.

A permutation switch lock comprising a stationary contact, a movable member, a movable contact secured to the member, means for urging the member to a position in which the movable contact is out of engagement with the stationary contact, proj ections on the member, a plurality of cams, one for each of the projections, plungers carried by the cams and normally urged to a projected position wherein the cams are out of engagement with the projections, but capable of being moved to a retracted position, wherein the cams strike the projections to cause movement of said member, means for maintaining the plungcrs against turning movement, and means for latching the plungers in retracteo position, said latching means operating to release any one plunger upon the retraction of any other plunger.

In a permutation switch lock, an actuating element comprising a plunger rod mounted for movement to occupy projected and retracted positions, yieldable means for urging the rod to projected position, a cam removably carried by the rod, a cam fixed to the rod, and a keeper groove formed in the rod.

(3. In a permutation switch look, a plurality of actuating elements movable to 00- cupy two extreme positions, yielclable means for urging the elements to one extreme position,latchingn1eans for latching the elements in the other extreme position against the action of said urging means, and means caressee-3 rietl by the elei'nents for ml n'ing the latching botliecl in claim 6, wherein the latching means operates to latch any element in the seconcl extreme position when movedto said position.

JAMES J. TQLBERT. 

